Like a dramatic soap opera style plot twist, it appears Dell is planning to make a comeback in the tablet market little over a month after the firm announced it was throwing in the towel.

Dell's Streak series of 'micro-tablets' – available in both 5 and 7-inch varients – failed to make their mark at retail, with the company finally announcing it was effectively discontinuing the range back in December.

However, in an interview with Reuters, CCO Steve Felice has claimed the company is positioning itself to launch a new tablet before the end of the year, having sat back and watched its rivals flounder in their attempts to take on Apple's iPad.

A question of timing

"We have been taking our time," said Felice, noting the "general failure of everyone that's tried to introduce a tablet outside of Apple."

He continued, "You will see us enter this market in a bigger way toward the end of the year. So we are not really de-emphasising it, we are really being very careful how we enter it."

The first question that springs to mind, therefore, is what OS Dell will opt for with its new device.

Dell's Streak series ran Android, but while Felice said both platforms are viable, he suggested Microsoft has been very smart when it comes to the timing of Windows 8's launch, with the OS set to roll out with BlackBerry's PlayBook out of the race and HP's TouchPad consigned to history.

Winning with Windows?

"There hasn't been a lot of advancement and it's given Microsoft a good window to come into the market with Windows 8," he said.

"I like the touch Windows 8 feature. We like Windows 8 but we continue to develop with Android as well. We are still going to be more choice-driven, based on the feedback we get from customers."

The only other clue Felice gave regarding Dell's forthcoming tablet is a desire to make it "compatible with the business marketplace" - a factor he believes Apple is yet to address.

"There's lot of use in the commercial sector that requires security and more compatibility, and I think we will be able to address that in a better way."

[source: Reuters]